24 The Lord shewed me, and, behold, two baskets of figs were set before the temple of the Lord, after that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, and the princes of Judah, with the carpenters and smiths, from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon.

One basket had very good figs, even like the figs that are first ripe: and the other basket had very naughty figs, which could not be eaten, they were so bad.

Then said the Lord unto me, What seest thou, Jeremiah? And I said, Figs; the good figs, very good; and the evil, very evil, that cannot be eaten, they are so evil.

Again the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,

Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel; Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their good.

For I will set mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land: and I will build them, and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up.

And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the Lord: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.

And as the evil figs, which cannot be eaten, they are so evil; surely thus saith the Lord, So will I give Zedekiah the king of Judah, and his princes, and the residue of Jerusalem, that remain in this land, and them that dwell in the land of Egypt:

And I will deliver them to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth for their hurt, to be a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places whither I shall drive them.

10 And I will send the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, among them, till they be consumed from off the land that I gave unto them and to their fathers.

25 The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that was the first year of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon;

The which Jeremiah the prophet spake unto all the people of Judah, and to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying,

From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, even unto this day, that is the three and twentieth year, the word of the Lord hath come unto me, and I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye have not hearkened.

And the Lord hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets, rising early and sending them; but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear.

They said, Turn ye again now every one from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings, and dwell in the land that the Lord hath given unto you and to your fathers for ever and ever:

And go not after other gods to serve them, and to worship them, and provoke me not to anger with the works of your hands; and I will do you no hurt.

Yet ye have not hearkened unto me, saith the Lord; that ye might provoke me to anger with the works of your hands to your own hurt.

Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Because ye have not heard my words,

Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the Lord, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations.

10 Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the candle.

11 And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.

12 And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith the Lord, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual desolations.

13 And I will bring upon that land all my words which I have pronounced against it, even all that is written in this book, which Jeremiah hath prophesied against all the nations.

14 For many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of them also: and I will recompense them according to their deeds, and according to the works of their own hands.

15 For thus saith the Lord God of Israel unto me; Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it.

16 And they shall drink, and be moved, and be mad, because of the sword that I will send among them.

17 Then took I the cup at the Lord's hand, and made all the nations to drink, unto whom the Lord had sent me:

18 To wit, Jerusalem, and the cities of Judah, and the kings thereof, and the princes thereof, to make them a desolation, an astonishment, an hissing, and a curse; as it is this day;

19 Pharaoh king of Egypt, and his servants, and his princes, and all his people;

20 And all the mingled people, and all the kings of the land of Uz, and all the kings of the land of the Philistines, and Ashkelon, and Azzah, and Ekron, and the remnant of Ashdod,

21 Edom, and Moab, and the children of Ammon,

22 And all the kings of Tyrus, and all the kings of Zidon, and the kings of the isles which are beyond the sea,

23 Dedan, and Tema, and Buz, and all that are in the utmost corners,

24 And all the kings of Arabia, and all the kings of the mingled people that dwell in the desert,

25 And all the kings of Zimri, and all the kings of Elam, and all the kings of the Medes,

26 And all the kings of the north, far and near, one with another, and all the kingdoms of the world, which are upon the face of the earth: and the king of Sheshach shall drink after them.

27 Therefore thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Drink ye, and be drunken, and spue, and fall, and rise no more, because of the sword which I will send among you.

28 And it shall be, if they refuse to take the cup at thine hand to drink, then shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Ye shall certainly drink.

29 For, lo, I begin to bring evil on the city which is called by my name, and should ye be utterly unpunished? Ye shall not be unpunished: for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, saith the Lord of hosts.

30 Therefore prophesy thou against them all these words, and say unto them, The Lord shall roar from on high, and utter his voice from his holy habitation; he shall mightily roar upon his habitation; he shall give a shout, as they that tread the grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth.

31 A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for the Lord hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh; he will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith the Lord.

32 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth.

33 And the slain of the Lord shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground.

34 Howl, ye shepherds, and cry; and wallow yourselves in the ashes, ye principal of the flock: for the days of your slaughter and of your dispersions are accomplished; and ye shall fall like a pleasant vessel.

35 And the shepherds shall have no way to flee, nor the principal of the flock to escape.

36 A voice of the cry of the shepherds, and an howling of the principal of the flock, shall be heard: for the Lord hath spoiled their pasture.

37 And the peaceable habitations are cut down because of the fierce anger of the Lord.

38 He hath forsaken his covert, as the lion: for their land is desolate because of the fierceness of the oppressor, and because of his fierce anger.

26 In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word from the Lord, saying,

Thus saith the Lord; Stand in the court of the Lord's house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the Lord's house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word:

If so be they will hearken, and turn every man from his evil way, that I may repent me of the evil, which I purpose to do unto them because of the evil of their doings.

And thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord; If ye will not hearken to me, to walk in my law, which I have set before you,

To hearken to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I sent unto you, both rising up early, and sending them, but ye have not hearkened;

Then will I make this house like Shiloh, and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth.

So the priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the Lord.

Now it came to pass, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the Lord had commanded him to speak unto all the people, that the priests and the prophets and all the people took him, saying, Thou shalt surely die.

Why hast thou prophesied in the name of the Lord, saying, This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate without an inhabitant? And all the people were gathered against Jeremiah in the house of the Lord.

10 When the princes of Judah heard these things, then they came up from the king's house unto the house of the Lord, and sat down in the entry of the new gate of the Lord's house.

11 Then spake the priests and the prophets unto the princes and to all the people, saying, This man is worthy to die; for he hath prophesied against this city, as ye have heard with your ears.

12 Then spake Jeremiah unto all the princes and to all the people, saying, The Lord sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that ye have heard.

13 Therefore now amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the Lord your God; and the Lord will repent him of the evil that he hath pronounced against you.

14 As for me, behold, I am in your hand: do with me as seemeth good and meet unto you.

15 But know ye for certain, that if ye put me to death, ye shall surely bring innocent blood upon yourselves, and upon this city, and upon the inhabitants thereof: for of a truth the Lord hath sent me unto you to speak all these words in your ears.

16 Then said the princes and all the people unto the priests and to the prophets; This man is not worthy to die: for he hath spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God.

17 Then rose up certain of the elders of the land, and spake to all the assembly of the people, saying,

18 Micah the Morasthite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and spake to all the people of Judah, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Zion shall be plowed like a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest.

19 Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him at all to death? did he not fear the Lord, and besought the Lord, and the Lord repented him of the evil which he had pronounced against them? Thus might we procure great evil against our souls.

20 And there was also a man that prophesied in the name of the Lord, Urijah the son of Shemaiah of Kirjathjearim, who prophesied against this city and against this land according to all the words of Jeremiah.

21 And when Jehoiakim the king, with all his mighty men, and all the princes, heard his words, the king sought to put him to death: but when Urijah heard it, he was afraid, and fled, and went into Egypt;

22 And Jehoiakim the king sent men into Egypt, namely, Elnathan the son of Achbor, and certain men with him into Egypt.

23 And they fetched forth Urijah out of Egypt, and brought him unto Jehoiakim the king; who slew him with the sword, and cast his dead body into the graves of the common people.

24 Nevertheless the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, that they should not give him into the hand of the people to put him to death.

27 In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word unto Jeremiah from the Lord, saying,

Thus saith the Lord to me; Make thee bonds and yokes, and put them upon thy neck,

And send them to the king of Edom, and to the king of Moab, and to the king of the Ammonites, and to the king of Tyrus, and to the king of Zidon, by the hand of the messengers which come to Jerusalem unto Zedekiah king of Judah;

And command them to say unto their masters, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Thus shall ye say unto your masters;

I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the ground, by my great power and by my outstretched arm, and have given it unto whom it seemed meet unto me.

And now have I given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant; and the beasts of the field have I given him also to serve him.

And all nations shall serve him, and his son, and his son's son, until the very time of his land come: and then many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of him.

And it shall come to pass, that the nation and kingdom which will not serve the same Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, and that will not put their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, that nation will I punish, saith the Lord, with the sword, and with the famine, and with the pestilence, until I have consumed them by his hand.

Therefore hearken not ye to your prophets, nor to your diviners, nor to your dreamers, nor to your enchanters, nor to your sorcerers, which speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon:

10 For they prophesy a lie unto you, to remove you far from your land; and that I should drive you out, and ye should perish.

11 But the nations that bring their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him, those will I let remain still in their own land, saith the Lord; and they shall till it, and dwell therein.

12 I spake also to Zedekiah king of Judah according to all these words, saying, Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him and his people, and live.

13 Why will ye die, thou and thy people, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, as the Lord hath spoken against the nation that will not serve the king of Babylon?

14 Therefore hearken not unto the words of the prophets that speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon: for they prophesy a lie unto you.

15 For I have not sent them, saith the Lord, yet they prophesy a lie in my name; that I might drive you out, and that ye might perish, ye, and the prophets that prophesy unto you.

16 Also I spake to the priests and to all this people, saying, Thus saith the Lord; Hearken not to the words of your prophets that prophesy unto you, saying, Behold, the vessels of the Lord's house shall now shortly be brought again from Babylon: for they prophesy a lie unto you.

17 Hearken not unto them; serve the king of Babylon, and live: wherefore should this city be laid waste?

18 But if they be prophets, and if the word of the Lord be with them, let them now make intercession to the Lord of hosts, that the vessels which are left in the house of the Lord, and in the house of the king of Judah, and at Jerusalem, go not to Babylon.

19 For thus saith the Lord of hosts concerning the pillars, and concerning the sea, and concerning the bases, and concerning the residue of the vessels that remain in this city.

20 Which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took not, when he carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah from Jerusalem to Babylon, and all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem;

21 Yea, thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning the vessels that remain in the house of the Lord, and in the house of the king of Judah and of Jerusalem;

22 They shall be carried to Babylon, and there shall they be until the day that I visit them, saith the Lord; then will I bring them up, and restore them to this place.

28 And it came to pass the same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, and in the fifth month, that Hananiah the son of Azur the prophet, which was of Gibeon, spake unto me in the house of the Lord, in the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying,

Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon.

Within two full years will I bring again into this place all the vessels of the Lord's house, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place, and carried them to Babylon:

And I will bring again to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, with all the captives of Judah, that went into Babylon, saith the Lord: for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.

Then the prophet Jeremiah said unto the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests, and in the presence of all the people that stood in the house of the Lord,

Even the prophet Jeremiah said, Amen: the Lord do so: the Lord perform thy words which thou hast prophesied, to bring again the vessels of the Lord's house, and all that is carried away captive, from Babylon into this place.

Nevertheless hear thou now this word that I speak in thine ears, and in the ears of all the people;

The prophets that have been before me and before thee of old prophesied both against many countries, and against great kingdoms, of war, and of evil, and of pestilence.

The prophet which prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that the Lord hath truly sent him.

10 Then Hananiah the prophet took the yoke from off the prophet Jeremiah's neck, and brake it.

11 And Hananiah spake in the presence of all the people, saying, Thus saith the Lord; Even so will I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all nations within the space of two full years. And the prophet Jeremiah went his way.

12 Then the word of the Lord came unto Jeremiah the prophet, after that Hananiah the prophet had broken the yoke from off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, saying,

13 Go and tell Hananiah, saying, Thus saith the Lord; Thou hast broken the yokes of wood; but thou shalt make for them yokes of iron.

14 For thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; I have put a yoke of iron upon the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and they shall serve him: and I have given him the beasts of the field also.

15 Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah; The Lord hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie.

16 Therefore thus saith the Lord; Behold, I will cast thee from off the face of the earth: this year thou shalt die, because thou hast taught rebellion against the Lord.

17 So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month.

29 Now these are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem unto the residue of the elders which were carried away captives, and to the priests, and to the prophets, and to all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried away captive from Jerusalem to Babylon;

(After that Jeconiah the king, and the queen, and the eunuchs, the princes of Judah and Jerusalem, and the carpenters, and the smiths, were departed from Jerusalem;)

By the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan, and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah, (whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent unto Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon) saying,

Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, unto all that are carried away captives, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem unto Babylon;

Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them;

Take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may be increased there, and not diminished.

And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the Lord for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.

For thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed.

For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the Lord.

10 For thus saith the Lord, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.

11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.

13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

14 And I will be found of you, saith the Lord: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the Lord; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.

15 Because ye have said, The Lord hath raised us up prophets in Babylon;

16 Know that thus saith the Lord of the king that sitteth upon the throne of David, and of all the people that dwelleth in this city, and of your brethren that are not gone forth with you into captivity;

17 Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Behold, I will send upon them the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, and will make them like vile figs, that cannot be eaten, they are so evil.

18 And I will persecute them with the sword, with the famine, and with the pestilence, and will deliver them to be removed to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a curse, and an astonishment, and an hissing, and a reproach, among all the nations whither I have driven them:

19 Because they have not hearkened to my words, saith the Lord, which I sent unto them by my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them; but ye would not hear, saith the Lord.

20 Hear ye therefore the word of the Lord, all ye of the captivity, whom I have sent from Jerusalem to Babylon:

21 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, of Ahab the son of Kolaiah, and of Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, which prophesy a lie unto you in my name; Behold, I will deliver them into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he shall slay them before your eyes;

22 And of them shall be taken up a curse by all the captivity of Judah which are in Babylon, saying, The Lord make thee like Zedekiah and like Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire;

23 Because they have committed villany in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbours' wives, and have spoken lying words in my name, which I have not commanded them; even I know, and am a witness, saith the Lord.

24 Thus shalt thou also speak to Shemaiah the Nehelamite, saying,

25 Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, Because thou hast sent letters in thy name unto all the people that are at Jerusalem, and to Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest, and to all the priests, saying,

26 The Lord hath made thee priest in the stead of Jehoiada the priest, that ye should be officers in the house of the Lord, for every man that is mad, and maketh himself a prophet, that thou shouldest put him in prison, and in the stocks.

27 Now therefore why hast thou not reproved Jeremiah of Anathoth, which maketh himself a prophet to you?

28 For therefore he sent unto us in Babylon, saying, This captivity is long: build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them.

29 And Zephaniah the priest read this letter in the ears of Jeremiah the prophet.

30 Then came the word of the Lord unto Jeremiah, saying,

31 Send to all them of the captivity, saying, Thus saith the Lord concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite; Because that Shemaiah hath prophesied unto you, and I sent him not, and he caused you to trust in a lie:

32 Therefore thus saith the Lord; Behold, I will punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite, and his seed: he shall not have a man to dwell among this people; neither shall he behold the good that I will do for my people, saith the Lord; because he hath taught rebellion against the Lord.

30 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying,

Thus speaketh the Lord God of Israel, saying, Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book.

For, lo, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the Lord: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.

And these are the words that the Lord spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah.

For thus saith the Lord; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace.

Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness?

Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble, but he shall be saved out of it.

For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him:

But they shall serve the Lord their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them.

10 Therefore fear thou not, O my servant Jacob, saith the Lord; neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid.

11 For I am with thee, saith the Lord, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet I will not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished.

12 For thus saith the Lord, Thy bruise is incurable, and thy wound is grievous.

13 There is none to plead thy cause, that thou mayest be bound up: thou hast no healing medicines.

14 All thy lovers have forgotten thee; they seek thee not; for I have wounded thee with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the multitude of thine iniquity; because thy sins were increased.

15 Why criest thou for thine affliction? thy sorrow is incurable for the multitude of thine iniquity: because thy sins were increased, I have done these things unto thee.

16 Therefore all they that devour thee shall be devoured; and all thine adversaries, every one of them, shall go into captivity; and they that spoil thee shall be a spoil, and all that prey upon thee will I give for a prey.

17 For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the Lord; because they called thee an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after.

18 Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I will bring again the captivity of Jacob's tents, and have mercy on his dwellingplaces; and the city shall be builded upon her own heap, and the palace shall remain after the manner thereof.

19 And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small.

20 Their children also shall be as aforetime, and their congregation shall be established before me, and I will punish all that oppress them.

21 And their nobles shall be of themselves, and their governor shall proceed from the midst of them; and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto me: for who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto me? saith the Lord.

22 And ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.

23 Behold, the whirlwind of the Lord goeth forth with fury, a continuing whirlwind: it shall fall with pain upon the head of the wicked.

24 The fierce anger of the Lord shall not return, until he hath done it, and until he have performed the intents of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it.

31 At the same time, saith the Lord, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people.

Thus saith the Lord, The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest.

The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry.

Thou shalt yet plant vines upon the mountains of Samaria: the planters shall plant, and shall eat them as common things.

For there shall be a day, that the watchmen upon the mount Ephraim shall cry, Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion unto the Lord our God.

For thus saith the Lord; Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations: publish ye, praise ye, and say, O Lord, save thy people, the remnant of Israel.

Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither.

They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.

10 Hear the word of the Lord, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.

11 For the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he.

12 Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the Lord, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all.

13 Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.

14 And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, saith the Lord.

15 Thus saith the Lord; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not.

16 Thus saith the Lord; Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the Lord; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy.

17 And there is hope in thine end, saith the Lord, that thy children shall come again to their own border.

18 I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the Lord my God.

19 Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth.

20 Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the Lord.

21 Set thee up waymarks, make thee high heaps: set thine heart toward the highway, even the way which thou wentest: turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these thy cities.

22 How long wilt thou go about, O thou backsliding daughter? for the Lord hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compass a man.

23 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; As yet they shall use this speech in the land of Judah and in the cities thereof, when I shall bring again their captivity; The Lord bless thee, O habitation of justice, and mountain of holiness.

24 And there shall dwell in Judah itself, and in all the cities thereof together, husbandmen, and they that go forth with flocks.

25 For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.

26 Upon this I awaked, and beheld; and my sleep was sweet unto me.

27 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man, and with the seed of beast.

28 And it shall come to pass, that like as I have watched over them, to pluck up, and to break down, and to throw down, and to destroy, and to afflict; so will I watch over them, to build, and to plant, saith the Lord.

29 In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children's teeth are set on edge.

30 But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge.

31 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:

32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord:

33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

35 Thus saith the Lord, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The Lord of hosts is his name:

36 If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the Lord, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever.

37 Thus saith the Lord; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the Lord.

38 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that the city shall be built to the Lord from the tower of Hananeel unto the gate of the corner.

39 And the measuring line shall yet go forth over against it upon the hill Gareb, and shall compass about to Goath.

40 And the whole valley of the dead bodies, and of the ashes, and all the fields unto the brook of Kidron, unto the corner of the horse gate toward the east, shall be holy unto the Lord; it shall not be plucked up, nor thrown down any more for ever.

Two Baskets of Figs

24 After Jehoiachin[a](A) son of Jehoiakim king of Judah and the officials, the skilled workers and the artisans of Judah were carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Lord showed me two baskets of figs(B) placed in front of the temple of the Lord. One basket had very good figs, like those that ripen early;(C) the other basket had very bad(D) figs, so bad they could not be eaten.

Then the Lord asked me, “What do you see,(E) Jeremiah?”

“Figs,” I answered. “The good ones are very good, but the bad ones are so bad they cannot be eaten.”

Then the word of the Lord came to me: “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Like these good figs, I regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I sent(F) away from this place to the land of the Babylonians.[b] My eyes will watch over them for their good, and I will bring them back(G) to this land. I will build(H) them up and not tear them down; I will plant(I) them and not uproot them. I will give them a heart to know(J) me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people,(K) and I will be their God, for they will return(L) to me with all their heart.(M)

“‘But like the bad(N) figs, which are so bad they cannot be eaten,’ says the Lord, ‘so will I deal with Zedekiah(O) king of Judah, his officials(P) and the survivors(Q) from Jerusalem, whether they remain in this land or live in Egypt.(R) I will make them abhorrent(S) and an offense to all the kingdoms of the earth, a reproach and a byword,(T) a curse[c](U) and an object of ridicule, wherever I banish(V) them. 10 I will send the sword,(W) famine(X) and plague(Y) against them until they are destroyed from the land I gave to them and their ancestors.(Z)’”

Seventy Years of Captivity

25 The word came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim(AA) son of Josiah king of Judah, which was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar(AB) king of Babylon. So Jeremiah the prophet said to all the people of Judah(AC) and to all those living in Jerusalem: For twenty-three years—from the thirteenth year of Josiah(AD) son of Amon king of Judah until this very day—the word of the Lord has come to me and I have spoken to you again and again,(AE) but you have not listened.(AF)

And though the Lord has sent all his servants the prophets(AG) to you again and again, you have not listened or paid any attention.(AH) They said, “Turn(AI) now, each of you, from your evil ways and your evil practices, and you can stay in the land(AJ) the Lord gave to you and your ancestors for ever and ever. Do not follow other gods(AK) to serve and worship them; do not arouse my anger with what your hands have made. Then I will not harm you.”

“But you did not listen to me,” declares the Lord, “and you have aroused(AL) my anger with what your hands have made,(AM) and you have brought harm(AN) to yourselves.”

Therefore the Lord Almighty says this: “Because you have not listened to my words, I will summon(AO) all the peoples of the north(AP) and my servant(AQ) Nebuchadnezzar(AR) king of Babylon,” declares the Lord, “and I will bring them against this land and its inhabitants and against all the surrounding nations. I will completely destroy[d](AS) them and make them an object of horror and scorn,(AT) and an everlasting ruin.(AU) 10 I will banish from them the sounds(AV) of joy and gladness, the voices of bride and bridegroom,(AW) the sound of millstones(AX) and the light of the lamp.(AY) 11 This whole country will become a desolate wasteland,(AZ) and these nations will serve(BA) the king of Babylon seventy years.(BB)

12 “But when the seventy years(BC) are fulfilled, I will punish the king of Babylon(BD) and his nation, the land of the Babylonians,[e] for their guilt,” declares the Lord, “and will make it desolate(BE) forever. 13 I will bring on that land all the things I have spoken against it, all that are written(BF) in this book and prophesied by Jeremiah against all the nations. 14 They themselves will be enslaved(BG) by many nations(BH) and great kings; I will repay(BI) them according to their deeds and the work of their hands.”

The Cup of God’s Wrath

15 This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, said to me: “Take from my hand this cup(BJ) filled with the wine of my wrath and make all the nations to whom I send(BK) you drink it. 16 When they drink(BL) it, they will stagger(BM) and go mad(BN) because of the sword(BO) I will send among them.”

17 So I took the cup from the Lord’s hand and made all the nations to whom he sent(BP) me drink it: 18 Jerusalem(BQ) and the towns of Judah, its kings and officials, to make them a ruin(BR) and an object of horror and scorn,(BS) a curse[f](BT)—as they are today;(BU) 19 Pharaoh king(BV) of Egypt,(BW) his attendants, his officials and all his people, 20 and all the foreign people there; all the kings of Uz;(BX) all the kings of the Philistines(BY) (those of Ashkelon,(BZ) Gaza,(CA) Ekron, and the people left at Ashdod); 21 Edom,(CB) Moab(CC) and Ammon;(CD) 22 all the kings of Tyre(CE) and Sidon;(CF) the kings of the coastlands(CG) across the sea; 23 Dedan,(CH) Tema,(CI) Buz(CJ) and all who are in distant places[g];(CK) 24 all the kings of Arabia(CL) and all the kings of the foreign people(CM) who live in the wilderness; 25 all the kings of Zimri,(CN) Elam(CO) and Media;(CP) 26 and all the kings of the north,(CQ) near and far, one after the other—all the kingdoms(CR) on the face of the earth. And after all of them, the king of Sheshak[h](CS) will drink it too.

27 “Then tell them, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Drink, get drunk(CT) and vomit, and fall to rise no more because of the sword(CU) I will send among you.’ 28 But if they refuse to take the cup from your hand and drink(CV), tell them, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: You must drink it! 29 See, I am beginning to bring disaster(CW) on the city that bears my Name,(CX) and will you indeed go unpunished?(CY) You will not go unpunished, for I am calling down a sword(CZ) on all(DA) who live on the earth,(DB) declares the Lord Almighty.’

30 “Now prophesy all these words against them and say to them:

“‘The Lord will roar(DC) from on high;
    he will thunder(DD) from his holy dwelling(DE)
    and roar mightily against his land.
He will shout like those who tread(DF) the grapes,
    shout against all who live on the earth.
31 The tumult(DG) will resound to the ends of the earth,
    for the Lord will bring charges(DH) against the nations;
he will bring judgment(DI) on all(DJ) mankind
    and put the wicked to the sword,(DK)’”
declares the Lord.

32 This is what the Lord Almighty says:

“Look! Disaster(DL) is spreading
    from nation to nation;(DM)
a mighty storm(DN) is rising
    from the ends of the earth.”(DO)

33 At that time those slain(DP) by the Lord will be everywhere—from one end of the earth to the other. They will not be mourned or gathered(DQ) up or buried,(DR) but will be like dung lying on the ground.

34 Weep and wail, you shepherds;(DS)
    roll(DT) in the dust, you leaders of the flock.
For your time to be slaughtered(DU) has come;
    you will fall like the best of the rams.[i](DV)
35 The shepherds will have nowhere to flee,
    the leaders of the flock no place to escape.(DW)
36 Hear the cry(DX) of the shepherds,(DY)
    the wailing of the leaders of the flock,
    for the Lord is destroying their pasture.
37 The peaceful meadows will be laid waste
    because of the fierce anger of the Lord.
38 Like a lion(DZ) he will leave his lair,
    and their land will become desolate(EA)
because of the sword[j] of the oppressor(EB)
    and because of the Lord’s fierce anger.(EC)

Jeremiah Threatened With Death

26 Early in the reign of Jehoiakim(ED) son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came from the Lord: “This is what the Lord says: Stand in the courtyard(EE) of the Lord’s house and speak to all the people of the towns of Judah who come to worship in the house of the Lord.(EF) Tell(EG) them everything I command you; do not omit(EH) a word. Perhaps they will listen and each will turn(EI) from their evil ways. Then I will relent(EJ) and not inflict on them the disaster I was planning because of the evil they have done. Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord says: If you do not listen(EK) to me and follow my law,(EL) which I have set before you, and if you do not listen to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I have sent to you again and again (though you have not listened(EM)), then I will make this house like Shiloh(EN) and this city a curse[k](EO) among all the nations of the earth.’”

The priests, the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speak these words in the house of the Lord. But as soon as Jeremiah finished telling all the people everything the Lord had commanded(EP) him to say, the priests, the prophets and all the people seized(EQ) him and said, “You must die!(ER) Why do you prophesy in the Lord’s name that this house will be like Shiloh and this city will be desolate and deserted?”(ES) And all the people crowded(ET) around Jeremiah in the house of the Lord.

10 When the officials(EU) of Judah heard about these things, they went up from the royal palace to the house of the Lord and took their places at the entrance of the New Gate(EV) of the Lord’s house. 11 Then the priests and the prophets said to the officials and all the people, “This man should be sentenced to death(EW) because he has prophesied against this city. You have heard it with your own ears!”(EX)

12 Then Jeremiah said to all the officials(EY) and all the people: “The Lord sent me to prophesy(EZ) against this house and this city all the things you have heard.(FA) 13 Now reform(FB) your ways and your actions and obey(FC) the Lord your God. Then the Lord will relent(FD) and not bring the disaster he has pronounced against you. 14 As for me, I am in your hands;(FE) do with me whatever you think is good and right. 15 Be assured, however, that if you put me to death, you will bring the guilt of innocent blood(FF) on yourselves and on this city and on those who live in it, for in truth the Lord has sent me to you to speak all these words(FG) in your hearing.”

16 Then the officials(FH) and all the people said to the priests and the prophets, “This man should not be sentenced to death!(FI) He has spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God.”

17 Some of the elders of the land stepped forward and said to the entire assembly of people, 18 “Micah(FJ) of Moresheth prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah. He told all the people of Judah, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says:

“‘Zion(FK) will be plowed like a field,
    Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble,(FL)
    the temple hill(FM) a mound overgrown with thickets.’[l](FN)

19 “Did Hezekiah king of Judah or anyone else in Judah put him to death? Did not Hezekiah(FO) fear the Lord and seek(FP) his favor? And did not the Lord relent,(FQ) so that he did not bring the disaster(FR) he pronounced against them? We are about to bring a terrible disaster(FS) on ourselves!”

20 (Now Uriah son of Shemaiah from Kiriath Jearim(FT) was another man who prophesied in the name of the Lord; he prophesied the same things against this city and this land as Jeremiah did. 21 When King Jehoiakim(FU) and all his officers and officials(FV) heard his words, the king was determined to put him to death.(FW) But Uriah heard of it and fled(FX) in fear to Egypt. 22 King Jehoiakim, however, sent Elnathan(FY) son of Akbor to Egypt, along with some other men. 23 They brought Uriah out of Egypt and took him to King Jehoiakim, who had him struck down with a sword(FZ) and his body thrown into the burial place of the common people.)(GA)

24 Furthermore, Ahikam(GB) son of Shaphan supported Jeremiah, and so he was not handed over to the people to be put to death.

Judah to Serve Nebuchadnezzar

27 Early in the reign of Zedekiah[m](GC) son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the Lord: This is what the Lord said to me: “Make a yoke(GD) out of straps and crossbars and put it on your neck. Then send(GE) word to the kings of Edom, Moab, Ammon,(GF) Tyre and Sidon(GG) through the envoys who have come to Jerusalem to Zedekiah king of Judah. Give them a message for their masters and say, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Tell this to your masters: With my great power and outstretched arm(GH) I made(GI) the earth and its people and the animals(GJ) that are on it, and I give(GK) it to anyone I please. Now I will give all your countries into the hands of my servant(GL) Nebuchadnezzar(GM) king of Babylon; I will make even the wild animals subject to him.(GN) All nations will serve(GO) him and his son and his grandson until the time(GP) for his land comes; then many nations and great kings will subjugate(GQ) him.

“‘“If, however, any nation or kingdom will not serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon or bow its neck under his yoke, I will punish(GR) that nation with the sword,(GS) famine(GT) and plague,(GU) declares the Lord, until I destroy it by his hand. So do not listen to your prophets,(GV) your diviners,(GW) your interpreters of dreams,(GX) your mediums(GY) or your sorcerers(GZ) who tell you, ‘You will not serve(HA) the king of Babylon.’ 10 They prophesy lies(HB) to you that will only serve to remove(HC) you far from your lands; I will banish you and you will perish. 11 But if any nation will bow its neck under the yoke(HD) of the king of Babylon and serve him, I will let that nation remain in its own land to till it and to live(HE) there, declares the Lord.”’”

12 I gave the same message to Zedekiah king of Judah. I said, “Bow your neck under the yoke(HF) of the king of Babylon; serve him and his people, and you will live.(HG) 13 Why will you and your people die(HH) by the sword, famine and plague(HI) with which the Lord has threatened any nation that will not serve the king of Babylon? 14 Do not listen(HJ) to the words of the prophets(HK) who say to you, ‘You will not serve the king of Babylon,’ for they are prophesying lies(HL) to you. 15 ‘I have not sent(HM) them,’ declares the Lord. ‘They are prophesying lies in my name.(HN) Therefore, I will banish you and you will perish,(HO) both you and the prophets who prophesy to you.’”

16 Then I said to the priests and all these people, “This is what the Lord says: Do not listen to the prophets who say, ‘Very soon now the articles(HP) from the Lord’s house will be brought back from Babylon.’ They are prophesying lies to you. 17 Do not listen(HQ) to them. Serve the king of Babylon, and you will live.(HR) Why should this city become a ruin? 18 If they are prophets and have the word of the Lord, let them plead(HS) with the Lord Almighty that the articles remaining in the house of the Lord and in the palace of the king of Judah and in Jerusalem not be taken to Babylon. 19 For this is what the Lord Almighty says about the pillars, the bronze Sea,(HT) the movable stands and the other articles(HU) that are left in this city, 20 which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon did not take away when he carried(HV) Jehoiachin[n](HW) son of Jehoiakim king of Judah into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon, along with all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem— 21 yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says about the things that are left in the house of the Lord and in the palace of the king of Judah and in Jerusalem: 22 ‘They will be taken(HX) to Babylon and there they will remain until the day(HY) I come for them,’ declares the Lord. ‘Then I will bring(HZ) them back and restore them to this place.’”

The False Prophet Hananiah

28 In the fifth month of that same year, the fourth year, early in the reign of Zedekiah(IA) king of Judah, the prophet Hananiah son of Azzur, who was from Gibeon,(IB) said to me in the house of the Lord in the presence of the priests and all the people: “This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘I will break the yoke(IC) of the king of Babylon. Within two years I will bring back to this place all the articles(ID) of the Lord’s house that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon removed from here and took to Babylon. I will also bring back to this place Jehoiachin[o](IE) son of Jehoiakim king of Judah and all the other exiles from Judah who went to Babylon,’ declares the Lord, ‘for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.’”(IF)

Then the prophet Jeremiah replied to the prophet Hananiah before the priests and all the people who were standing in the house of the Lord. He said, “Amen! May the Lord do so! May the Lord fulfill the words you have prophesied by bringing the articles of the Lord’s house and all the exiles back to this place from Babylon.(IG) Nevertheless, listen to what I have to say in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people: From early times the prophets who preceded you and me have prophesied war, disaster and plague(IH) against many countries and great kingdoms. But the prophet who prophesies peace will be recognized as one truly sent by the Lord only if his prediction comes true.(II)

10 Then the prophet Hananiah took the yoke(IJ) off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah and broke it, 11 and he said(IK) before all the people, “This is what the Lord says: ‘In the same way I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon off the neck of all the nations within two years.’” At this, the prophet Jeremiah went on his way.

12 After the prophet Hananiah had broken the yoke off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 13 “Go and tell Hananiah, ‘This is what the Lord says: You have broken a wooden yoke, but in its place you will get a yoke of iron. 14 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: I will put an iron yoke(IL) on the necks of all these nations to make them serve(IM) Nebuchadnezzar(IN) king of Babylon, and they will serve him. I will even give him control over the wild animals.(IO)’”

15 Then the prophet Jeremiah said to Hananiah the prophet, “Listen, Hananiah! The Lord has not sent(IP) you, yet you have persuaded this nation to trust in lies.(IQ) 16 Therefore this is what the Lord says: ‘I am about to remove you from the face of the earth.(IR) This very year you are going to die,(IS) because you have preached rebellion(IT) against the Lord.’”

17 In the seventh month of that same year, Hananiah the prophet died.(IU)

A Letter to the Exiles

29 This is the text of the letter(IV) that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders among the exiles and to the priests, the prophets and all the other people Nebuchadnezzar had carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon.(IW) (This was after King Jehoiachin[p](IX) and the queen mother,(IY) the court officials and the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem, the skilled workers and the artisans had gone into exile from Jerusalem.) He entrusted the letter to Elasah son of Shaphan and to Gemariah son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent to King Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon. It said:

This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried(IZ) into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: “Build(JA) houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease.(JB) Also, seek(JC) the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray(JD) to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets(JE) and diviners among you deceive(JF) you. Do not listen to the dreams(JG) you encourage them to have.(JH) They are prophesying lies(JI) to you in my name. I have not sent(JJ) them,” declares the Lord.

10 This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years(JK) are completed for Babylon, I will come to you(JL) and fulfill my good promise(JM) to bring you back(JN) to this place. 11 For I know the plans(JO) I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper(JP) you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.(JQ) 12 Then you will call(JR) on me and come and pray(JS) to me, and I will listen(JT) to you. 13 You will seek(JU) me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.(JV) 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back(JW) from captivity.[q] I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”(JX)

15 You may say, “The Lord has raised up prophets for us in Babylon,” 16 but this is what the Lord says about the king who sits on David’s throne and all the people who remain in this city, your fellow citizens who did not go with you into exile— 17 yes, this is what the Lord Almighty says: “I will send the sword, famine and plague(JY) against them and I will make them like figs(JZ) that are so bad they cannot be eaten. 18 I will pursue them with the sword, famine and plague and will make them abhorrent(KA) to all the kingdoms of the earth, a curse[r](KB) and an object of horror,(KC) of scorn(KD) and reproach, among all the nations where I drive them. 19 For they have not listened to my words,”(KE) declares the Lord, “words that I sent to them again and again(KF) by my servants the prophets.(KG) And you exiles have not listened either,” declares the Lord.

20 Therefore, hear the word of the Lord, all you exiles whom I have sent(KH) away from Jerusalem to Babylon. 21 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says about Ahab son of Kolaiah and Zedekiah son of Maaseiah, who are prophesying lies(KI) to you in my name: “I will deliver them into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he will put them to death before your very eyes. 22 Because of them, all the exiles from Judah who are in Babylon will use this curse: ‘May the Lord treat you like Zedekiah and Ahab, whom the king of Babylon burned(KJ) in the fire.’ 23 For they have done outrageous things in Israel; they have committed adultery(KK) with their neighbors’ wives, and in my name they have uttered lies—which I did not authorize. I know(KL) it and am a witness(KM) to it,” declares the Lord.

Message to Shemaiah

24 Tell Shemaiah the Nehelamite, 25 “This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: You sent letters in your own name to all the people in Jerusalem, to the priest Zephaniah(KN) son of Maaseiah, and to all the other priests. You said to Zephaniah, 26 ‘The Lord has appointed you priest in place of Jehoiada to be in charge of the house of the Lord; you should put any maniac(KO) who acts like a prophet into the stocks(KP) and neck-irons. 27 So why have you not reprimanded Jeremiah from Anathoth, who poses as a prophet among you? 28 He has sent this message(KQ) to us in Babylon: It will be a long time.(KR) Therefore build(KS) houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce.’”

29 Zephaniah(KT) the priest, however, read the letter to Jeremiah the prophet. 30 Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 31 “Send this message to all the exiles: ‘This is what the Lord says about Shemaiah(KU) the Nehelamite: Because Shemaiah has prophesied to you, even though I did not send(KV) him, and has persuaded you to trust in lies, 32 this is what the Lord says: I will surely punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite and his descendants.(KW) He will have no one left among this people, nor will he see the good(KX) things I will do for my people, declares the Lord, because he has preached rebellion(KY) against me.’”

Restoration of Israel

30 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Write(KZ) in a book all the words I have spoken to you. The days(LA) are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will bring(LB) my people Israel and Judah back from captivity[s] and restore(LC) them to the land I gave their ancestors to possess,’ says the Lord.”

These are the words the Lord spoke concerning Israel and Judah: “This is what the Lord says:

“‘Cries of fear(LD) are heard—
    terror, not peace.
Ask and see:
    Can a man bear children?
Then why do I see every strong man
    with his hands on his stomach like a woman in labor,(LE)
    every face turned deathly pale?(LF)
How awful that day(LG) will be!
    No other will be like it.
It will be a time of trouble(LH) for Jacob,
    but he will be saved(LI) out of it.

“‘In that day,’ declares the Lord Almighty,
    ‘I will break the yoke(LJ) off their necks
and will tear off their bonds;(LK)
    no longer will foreigners enslave them.(LL)
Instead, they will serve the Lord their God
    and David(LM) their king,(LN)
    whom I will raise up for them.

10 “‘So do not be afraid,(LO) Jacob my servant;(LP)
    do not be dismayed, Israel,’
declares the Lord.
‘I will surely save(LQ) you out of a distant place,
    your descendants from the land of their exile.
Jacob will again have peace and security,(LR)
    and no one will make him afraid.(LS)
11 I am with you(LT) and will save you,’
    declares the Lord.
‘Though I completely destroy all the nations
    among which I scatter you,
    I will not completely destroy(LU) you.
I will discipline(LV) you but only in due measure;
    I will not let you go entirely unpunished.’(LW)

12 “This is what the Lord says:

“‘Your wound(LX) is incurable,
    your injury beyond healing.(LY)
13 There is no one to plead your cause,(LZ)
    no remedy for your sore,
    no healing(MA) for you.
14 All your allies(MB) have forgotten you;
    they care nothing for you.
I have struck you as an enemy(MC) would
    and punished you as would the cruel,(MD)
because your guilt is so great
    and your sins(ME) so many.
15 Why do you cry out over your wound,
    your pain that has no cure?(MF)
Because of your great guilt and many sins
    I have done these things to you.(MG)

16 “‘But all who devour(MH) you will be devoured;
    all your enemies will go into exile.(MI)
Those who plunder(MJ) you will be plundered;
    all who make spoil of you I will despoil.
17 But I will restore you to health
    and heal(MK) your wounds,’
declares the Lord,
‘because you are called an outcast,(ML)
    Zion for whom no one cares.’(MM)

18 “This is what the Lord says:

“‘I will restore the fortunes(MN) of Jacob’s tents(MO)
    and have compassion(MP) on his dwellings;
the city will be rebuilt(MQ) on her ruins,
    and the palace will stand in its proper place.
19 From them will come songs(MR) of thanksgiving(MS)
    and the sound of rejoicing.(MT)
I will add to their numbers,(MU)
    and they will not be decreased;
I will bring them honor,(MV)
    and they will not be disdained.
20 Their children(MW) will be as in days of old,
    and their community will be established(MX) before me;
    I will punish(MY) all who oppress them.
21 Their leader(MZ) will be one of their own;
    their ruler will arise from among them.(NA)
I will bring him near(NB) and he will come close to me—
    for who is he who will devote himself
    to be close to me?’
declares the Lord.
22 “‘So you will be my people,(NC)
    and I will be your God.(ND)’”

23 See, the storm(NE) of the Lord
    will burst out in wrath,
a driving wind swirling down
    on the heads of the wicked.
24 The fierce anger(NF) of the Lord will not turn back(NG)
    until he fully accomplishes
    the purposes of his heart.
In days to come
    you will understand(NH) this.

31 “At that time,” declares the Lord, “I will be the God(NI) of all the families of Israel, and they will be my people.”

This is what the Lord says:

“The people who survive the sword
    will find favor(NJ) in the wilderness;
    I will come to give rest(NK) to Israel.”

The Lord appeared to us in the past,[t] saying:

“I have loved(NL) you with an everlasting love;
    I have drawn(NM) you with unfailing kindness.
I will build you up again,
    and you, Virgin(NN) Israel, will be rebuilt.(NO)
Again you will take up your timbrels(NP)
    and go out to dance(NQ) with the joyful.(NR)
Again you will plant(NS) vineyards
    on the hills of Samaria;(NT)
the farmers will plant them
    and enjoy their fruit.(NU)
There will be a day when watchmen(NV) cry out
    on the hills of Ephraim,
‘Come, let us go up to Zion,
    to the Lord our God.’”(NW)

This is what the Lord says:

“Sing(NX) with joy for Jacob;
    shout for the foremost(NY) of the nations.
Make your praises heard, and say,
    Lord, save(NZ) your people,
    the remnant(OA) of Israel.’
See, I will bring them from the land of the north(OB)
    and gather(OC) them from the ends of the earth.
Among them will be the blind(OD) and the lame,(OE)
    expectant mothers and women in labor;
    a great throng will return.
They will come with weeping;(OF)
    they will pray as I bring them back.
I will lead(OG) them beside streams of water(OH)
    on a level(OI) path where they will not stumble,
because I am Israel’s father,(OJ)
    and Ephraim is my firstborn son.

10 “Hear the word of the Lord, you nations;
    proclaim it in distant coastlands:(OK)
‘He who scattered(OL) Israel will gather(OM) them
    and will watch over his flock like a shepherd.’(ON)
11 For the Lord will deliver Jacob
    and redeem(OO) them from the hand of those stronger(OP) than they.
12 They will come and shout for joy(OQ) on the heights(OR) of Zion;
    they will rejoice in the bounty(OS) of the Lord
the grain, the new wine and the olive oil,(OT)
    the young of the flocks(OU) and herds.
They will be like a well-watered garden,(OV)
    and they will sorrow(OW) no more.
13 Then young women will dance and be glad,
    young men and old as well.
I will turn their mourning(OX) into gladness;
    I will give them comfort(OY) and joy(OZ) instead of sorrow.
14 I will satisfy(PA) the priests(PB) with abundance,
    and my people will be filled with my bounty,(PC)
declares the Lord.

15 This is what the Lord says:

“A voice is heard in Ramah,(PD)
    mourning and great weeping,
Rachel weeping for her children
    and refusing to be comforted,(PE)
    because they are no more.”(PF)

16 This is what the Lord says:

“Restrain your voice from weeping
    and your eyes from tears,(PG)
for your work will be rewarded,(PH)
declares the Lord.
    “They will return(PI) from the land of the enemy.
17 So there is hope(PJ) for your descendants,”
declares the Lord.
    “Your children(PK) will return to their own land.

18 “I have surely heard Ephraim’s moaning:
    ‘You disciplined(PL) me like an unruly calf,(PM)
    and I have been disciplined.
Restore(PN) me, and I will return,
    because you are the Lord my God.
19 After I strayed,(PO)
    I repented;
after I came to understand,
    I beat(PP) my breast.
I was ashamed(PQ) and humiliated
    because I bore the disgrace of my youth.’(PR)
20 Is not Ephraim my dear son,
    the child(PS) in whom I delight?
Though I often speak against him,
    I still remember(PT) him.
Therefore my heart yearns for him;
    I have great compassion(PU) for him,”
declares the Lord.

21 “Set up road signs;
    put up guideposts.(PV)
Take note of the highway,(PW)
    the road that you take.
Return,(PX) Virgin(PY) Israel,
    return to your towns.
22 How long will you wander,(PZ)
    unfaithful(QA) Daughter Israel?
The Lord will create a new thing(QB) on earth—
    the woman will return to[u](QC) the man.”

23 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “When I bring them back from captivity,[v](QD) the people in the land of Judah and in its towns will once again use these words: ‘The Lord bless(QE) you, you prosperous city,(QF) you sacred mountain.’(QG) 24 People will live(QH) together in Judah and all its towns—farmers and those who move about with their flocks.(QI) 25 I will refresh the weary(QJ) and satisfy the faint.”(QK)

26 At this I awoke(QL) and looked around. My sleep had been pleasant to me.

27 “The days are coming,”(QM) declares the Lord, “when I will plant(QN) the kingdoms of Israel and Judah with the offspring of people and of animals. 28 Just as I watched(QO) over them to uproot(QP) and tear down, and to overthrow, destroy and bring disaster,(QQ) so I will watch over them to build and to plant,”(QR) declares the Lord. 29 “In those days people will no longer say,

‘The parents(QS) have eaten sour grapes,
    and the children’s teeth are set on edge.’(QT)

30 Instead, everyone will die for their own sin;(QU) whoever eats sour grapes—their own teeth will be set on edge.

31 “The days are coming,” declares the Lord,
    “when I will make a new covenant(QV)
with the people of Israel
    and with the people of Judah.
32 It will not be like the covenant(QW)
    I made with their ancestors(QX)
when I took them by the hand
    to lead them out of Egypt,(QY)
because they broke my covenant,
    though I was a husband(QZ) to[w] them,[x]
declares the Lord.
33 “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel
    after that time,” declares the Lord.
“I will put my law in their minds(RA)
    and write it on their hearts.(RB)
I will be their God,
    and they will be my people.(RC)
34 No longer will they teach(RD) their neighbor,
    or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know(RE) me,
    from the least of them to the greatest,”
declares the Lord.
“For I will forgive(RF) their wickedness
    and will remember their sins(RG) no more.”

35 This is what the Lord says,

he who appoints(RH) the sun
    to shine by day,
who decrees the moon and stars
    to shine by night,(RI)
who stirs up the sea(RJ)
    so that its waves roar(RK)
    the Lord Almighty is his name:(RL)
36 “Only if these decrees(RM) vanish from my sight,”
    declares the Lord,
“will Israel(RN) ever cease
    being a nation before me.”

37 This is what the Lord says:

“Only if the heavens above can be measured(RO)
    and the foundations of the earth below be searched out
will I reject(RP) all the descendants of Israel
    because of all they have done,”
declares the Lord.

38 “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when this city will be rebuilt(RQ) for me from the Tower of Hananel(RR) to the Corner Gate.(RS) 39 The measuring line(RT) will stretch from there straight to the hill of Gareb and then turn to Goah. 40 The whole valley(RU) where dead bodies(RV) and ashes are thrown, and all the terraces out to the Kidron Valley(RW) on the east as far as the corner of the Horse Gate,(RX) will be holy(RY) to the Lord. The city will never again be uprooted or demolished.”

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 24:1 Hebrew Jeconiah, a variant of Jehoiachin
  2. Jeremiah 24:5 Or Chaldeans
  3. Jeremiah 24:9 That is, their names will be used in cursing (see 29:22); or, others will see that they are cursed.
  4. Jeremiah 25:9 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them.
  5. Jeremiah 25:12 Or Chaldeans
  6. Jeremiah 25:18 That is, their names to be used in cursing (see 29:22); or, to be seen by others as cursed
  7. Jeremiah 25:23 Or who clip the hair by their foreheads
  8. Jeremiah 25:26 Sheshak is a cryptogram for Babylon.
  9. Jeremiah 25:34 Septuagint; Hebrew fall and be shattered like fine pottery
  10. Jeremiah 25:38 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint (see also 46:16 and 50:16); most Hebrew manuscripts anger
  11. Jeremiah 26:6 That is, its name will be used in cursing (see 29:22); or, others will see that it is cursed.
  12. Jeremiah 26:18 Micah 3:12
  13. Jeremiah 27:1 A few Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac (see also 27:3,12 and 28:1); most Hebrew manuscripts Jehoiakim (Most Septuagint manuscripts do not have this verse.)
  14. Jeremiah 27:20 Hebrew Jeconiah, a variant of Jehoiachin
  15. Jeremiah 28:4 Hebrew Jeconiah, a variant of Jehoiachin
  16. Jeremiah 29:2 Hebrew Jeconiah, a variant of Jehoiachin
  17. Jeremiah 29:14 Or will restore your fortunes
  18. Jeremiah 29:18 That is, their names will be used in cursing (see verse 22); or, others will see that they are cursed.
  19. Jeremiah 30:3 Or will restore the fortunes of my people Israel and Judah
  20. Jeremiah 31:3 Or Lord has appeared to us from afar
  21. Jeremiah 31:22 Or will protect
  22. Jeremiah 31:23 Or I restore their fortunes
  23. Jeremiah 31:32 Hebrew; Septuagint and Syriac / and I turned away from
  24. Jeremiah 31:32 Or was their master